JA_ATT_Mobility_Redacted.pdf

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A)

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

(1) IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND REQUIRING ACTIVITY:

Requiring Activity: DLA INFORMATION OPERATIONS

Contracting Office: DCSO Richmond

(2) NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

The action being requested is to purchase AT&T Mobility Wireless service and equipment for use by Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Information Operations.

Proposed Vendor: AT&T Mobility Wireless via the US Army Information Technology, E Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center – West (ITEC4 West) Blanket Purchase Agreement: W91RUS 11 A 0007.

(3) A DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES AND/OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS/ESTIMATED DOLLAR

AMOUNT:

The supplies and services needed are AT&T Mobility Wireless service and equipment for air cards, blackberry, cell phone, and iPad mobile broadband for CONUS and OCONUS IT support provided by DLA Information Operations. The required AT&T Mobility Wireless service and equipment is currently supported by AT&T Mobility Wireless under Delivery Order W91RUS 11 A 0007 XH02, which expires on June 30, 2015.

The estimated dollar value for the base period is (AT&T quote includes

(4) IDENTIFICATION OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

The subject procurement is being made in accordance with the provision of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302 1(a)(2)(ii)(A)(B) & (iii)(A)(B).

(5) DEMONSTRATE THAT THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY:

AT&T Mobility Wireless provides wireless coverage and ancillary equipment for DLA military support operations in Alaska, Hawaii, New Cumberland, PA, Philadelphia, PA, Fort Belvoir, VA, Red River, TX, other outlying DLA sites, and specified overseas temporary duty locations.

AT&T is uniquely qualified to support the list locations based on the other reasons in this section, that they have the necessary infrastructure, minimal dropped calls, current equipment only works through AT&T's network, etc. AT&T Mobility Wireless has invested in necessary infrastructure, such as cellular towers, making its connectivity and geographical area of coverage at these locations unrivaled by any other provider. Additionally, AT&T Mobility Wireless has demonstrated it has a unique capability to support DLA’s temporary duty overseas missions with required global voice and data wireless communications services and COTS wireless/cellular telephones/voice mail/smart phone devices in overseas areas such as, but not limited to, Afghanistan, Africa, Bahrain, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Pakistan, etc.. Based on the company’s performance over the past couple of years, DLA Information Operations has determined that AT&T Mobility Wireless provides unequaled coverage at these locations. For example, lack of proper cellular coverage results in issues such as dropped calls. AT&T Mobility Wireless has demonstrated it is uniquely capable at these locations of consistently providing service that achieves minimal dropped calls.

Since AT&T Mobility Wireless has its own software and cell towers, the company’s service and equipment is required to connect and use its system. The AT&T Mobility Wireless equipment DLA currently owns under the current Delivery Order will not work with any other wireless service provider at these locations. AT&T Mobility Wireless equipment is locked and the company does not allow its equipment to be used with another provider’s service.

Moreover, since AT&T Mobility Wireless equipment remains locked throughout the duration of use, discounted or free upgrades are offered every 10 months. If DLA Information Operations is required to change vendors, all equipment will have to be replaced. This will result in new iPhones having to be purchased again, as well as any costs that a new vendor may require for the remaining air cars and cell phones. A change of wireless service providers at these locations will result in substantial duplication of cost to the government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in filling DLA’s requirements. The locked equipment, which does not work with other carriers, will have to be replaced. This will result in purchasing the same equipment again from a different wireless service provider, most likely at a substantial increase in cost over a free upgrade. For example, iPhones were recently purchased at a reduced cost/free upgrade from AT&T Mobility Wireless. A change in wireless service providers will result in duplicative costs for new iPhones. Furthermore, unacceptable delays in filling DLA’s wireless service requirements at these locations will occur if this pending award is held up in an effort to compete wireless service at these locations. With the expiration of the current delivery order on June 30, 2015, the result will be a lack of wireless service while competition is sought, an untenable result that will not only severely hamper mission accomplishment but potentially put both service members and deployed civilians in unnecessary harms way.

(6) A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AMOUNG SCHEDULE HOLDERS AND THE RESULTS OR A

STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCHWAS NOT CONDUCTED:

The US Army Information Technology, E Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center – West (ITEC4 West) has awarded a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to AT&T Mobility – W91RUS 11 A 0007. The BPA provides the government a discount off the commercial pricing.

A Request for Information (RFI) was issued on June 19, 2015.

On June 19, 2015, a response was received from representing ; however, they did not provide any information regarding the services requested in the RFI.

On June 19, 2015, a response was received from representing .

was interested in supplying a partial portion of the required service to Kuwait only; they did not provide capabilities or any other information requested by the RFI to support the required service.

On June 22, 2015, a response was received from representing . was interested in supplying a partial portion of the required service to the U.S. sites, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, and Italy only; they provided capabilities, but did not provide all locations required by the RFI to support the required service.

On June 23, 2015, a response was received from representing , who was offering the services requested by the RFI. already has an existing BPA with US Army Information Technology, E Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center – West (ITEC4 West). Although provides comparable services; the signals for the areas of coverage are not comparable and result in dropped calls. has a separate BPA with DLA that provides areas of coverage for other DLA Sites. A change of vendor to would result in a substantial duplication in cost and delays, as well as reduced wireless capability.

(7) A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT

WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE:

Pricing received is comparable and competitive within the market. I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

(8) A STATEMENT OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULT OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON

MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED:

Market research was conducted by the ProgramManager of the BPAs. The market research was not limited to AT&T Mobility Wireless. AT&T Mobility Wireless has a BPA, and the Government’s service with the currently owned AT&T Mobility Wireless equipment cannot be met by other wireless service providers. Market research was conducted by posting the aforementioned RFI. However, no additional sourcing possibilities for the stated services and ancillary equipment within the AT&T Mobility Wireless map coverage areas and cell tower connectivity areas were discovered.

A change of wireless vendors would result in a substantial duplication in cost and delays. Since the locked devices do not work with other carriers, all equipment would have to be replaced. Some of the equipment would result in a substantial increase in cost. For example, iPhones were recently purchased at a reduced cost from AT&T; therefore, a change of vendor would result in a duplicative cost for new iPhones. Delays would occur due the transition of such a large number of devices across the DLA enterprise.

(9) ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

At this time, AT&T Mobility Wireless remains the only source uniquely capable of providing DLA with the full spectrum of necessary wireless service and equipment at these locations. Without this service, there will be a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition, and unacceptable delays in fulfilling DLA’s requirements. Loss of this service will impact the mission.

(10) A LISTING OF THE SOURCES THAT EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THIS ACQUISITION:

AT&T Mobility

(11) A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO

COMPETITON:

At this time, we are not in a position to contract this wireless service with another carrier; therefore it will remain sole source to AT&T Mobility Wireless. No other wireless service provider can offer the level of customer support, coverage areas or replacement equipment that DLA requires to support its vast customer base.

The individual lines of services have been established based on the geographical area of coverage and wireless signals. For example, AT&T Mobility Wireless blackberries are best suited for Fort Belvoir and Philadelphia, whereas blackberries are best suited for Columbus and Richmond. These primary wireless service providers are capable of providing the geographical area of coverage and wireless signals required to support DLA’s worldwide mission. DLA Information Operations over time has determined which carriers provide the best cellular service at specific locations. Other providers, such as , have been tested at these locations, and the end result is that AT&T Mobility Wireless is the only provider that has provided consistent service with little to no dropped calls, while experience with other provides has shown significant issues with dropped calls.

CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL:

a. Contracting Officer Certification:

I hereby certify the information contained in this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Management/Program Analyst

MICHAEL W. JUSTIS DATE

Chief, DLA Contracting Services Office at Richmond

DATE

Associate Counsel, Contracts

KATHLEEN M. ARABIA DATE

Competition Advocate DLA Contracting Services Office

6/26/2015

MONTGOMERY.STE

VEN.D.

Digitally signed by

MONTGOMERY.STEVEN.D.

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DLA, cn=MONTGOMERY.STEVEN.D Date: 2015.06.26 11:44:43 -04'00'

6/26/15

ARABIA.KATHLEEN

.M.

Digitally signed by ARABIA.KATHLEEN.M DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, ou=DLA, cn=ARABIA.KATHLEEN.M Date: 2015.06.29 09:36:39 -04'00' 06/29/2015